Direction-signal lamp for automobiles



Sept. 9. 1924. 1,508,368

. J. D. HENK-IRIX DIRECTION SIGNAL LAMP FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July 18. 1925 Fael. Flag.

, mi f1! '55 illumina a@ v" 215 D 'l /Zl/ -v a i 9.

. to provide a casing of Patented Sept. 9, i924.

JOHN D. HENDRX, F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, SSIG'NOR TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.'

aren

OLIVER Z. PERRY, OF

' DIRECTION-SIGNAL LAMP :FR AUTOMOBILES.

Application led July 18, 1923. Serial No. ($52,366.l

To all whom t may concern Be it known that L JOHN D. HENDRIX, a citizenof the United States of America, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington,l have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Direction-Signal which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to new and useful- .improvements ings. y

An important object of this invention is a suitable design to furnish means for displaying a variety of Warning signals to both the front and the rear of a vehicle.

A further object oi the invention is to in motor vehicle signal casprovide a signal casing that may be employed for the purpose ofv giving five difierent traliic signals, viz, slow speed ahead, stop, right and left turns and parking.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for a signal casing which will permit quick assembly and disassembly of the various parts employed to form the same.

AA further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of partition for a siging into a desired number partments nal casing which consists oi a comparatively few number of parts that are adapted for being separably connected to divide the casof separatel com- A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for mounting electric bulbs in the various compartments formed inthe casing.

`A still further object of the invention is the mannerin which the various parts are assembled and retained in their respective positions for forming the complete signalling` apparatus. Y

Other objects and advantages of the inveuntion Will be apparent during the course of the following description. In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is an elevational View of the signal casingvembodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a. vertical sectional view taken' taken through the casing shown in Figs.

Lamps for Automobiles, ot'V l and 2,

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of .one of the partitions employed for dividing'the casing into a desired number. of separate compartments,

Figure 5 is a side` elevational view ci partit-ion shown in F ig. et, and

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a locking Imember employed for. performing the combined function of removably connectinga pair of the partitions shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and for further acting as partitioning means for coacting with the form of partition shown in Figs. 4e and 5 for further dividing the casing into compartments.

In the drawing, wherein vfor-the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 7 designates'a shallow cylindrical casing formed from any suitable metal land having. outwardly directed annular anges 8 that. ar formed integrally with the edges of the saine. 'These outwardly directed flanges 8 are each provided with an inwardly extending annular Hange 9, as best shown'in" Fig. 2. The cylindrical portion 7 ofv this casing is suitably connected to a pair of bracket arms l() thatl are provided With the angularly arranged feet 1]. and are adapted for being employed to mount the casing upona convenient portion of an automobile. These `bracket members are connected substantially intermediate their lengt-hsby the bolt and nut 12. f

For the purpose of into live compartments, four of which are illuminated7 there are provided a series of partitions that are best illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. The form of partition shown in Figs. et and 5 is illustrated inFig. 3 in duplicate and forni what I Will term side partitions 13 and 14e. The partitions 13 and 14: are of identical construction With the exception of the arrangement of the means employed for supporting the electric sockets, it is believed` however, that for the present a description of the partition 13 shown in F i and 5 will be sufficient for both. This partition consists of aninterw mediate flat side portion l5 which is formed integrally at its upper and lower edges te Sth the shoulder portions 16. The upper shoul der 16 is formed integrally with the offset 7530 Limi upper side portion 17 While the lower shoulder 16 is formed integrally with the offset lower side 18. The odset upper side l? is formed integrally withI the arcuate top portion 19 'having etits outer edge an integrally formed. depending end portion 20. The lower ollset side 18 is provided with a rel atively smell arcuate end 21 that projects inwardly from the side 18. lit will also he seen that the arcuate top 19 projects inwardly troni the upper offset side 17. The intermediate tlat side portion l5 and the shoulder portions 16 have the cutout portion 22 formed in one edge 'for a purpose that will become apparent as the description proceeds. i l

lt will he seen that the partitions 13 and le may be stamped from a sheet oi" metal end may be easily bent to form the Various portions just described. During the stomping or these partitions there are provided two openings 23 in each partition.

. in f 23 in the ollset upper side l?.

These'openings 23 ere provided with four lugs 24 that are equally spaced around the edge of the seine end are bent inwardly, es illustrated in Figs. 3 and fl, for providing Ineens for clamping the lmnp sockets 25 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. It will he seen hy examining; this Fig. 3 that the partition 13 is provided with en opening 23 inv the upper portion of the' intermediate flat side l5 and with a. second open- The partition le is provid-ed with an aperture 23 in the upper portion' of the intermediate flat side l5 and With a second aperture in the oil'set lower side i3. is lies heen previously stated, the positioning of these spertures 23 is the only difference in construo tion between the partitions 13 and. l/l.

By referring to Fig. 6, it will he seen that there is provided a substantially llsheped member 26 which l will term e. partition key. This partition key consists of env intermediate flat portion 27 that is formed integrally with the upper and lower Walls 28 and 29 that extend laterally at rightungles from the inlvcrrnediateportion 27. This intermediate portion 27' is of less Width, for a portion olf its length, than the Width oli the upper end lower Walls 28 and 29.

By referring to llligs. land 2, it will ne seen that the casing 7 is provided with a. peir ot end plates 30 that eech consist of the annular rim portion 3l th et is provided with an annuler inwardly directed iiange 32 Each ot these rims 3l ere provided with s. diemetricelly extending cross piece 33y having out therein the oppositcly directed arrow-sheped openings 34. The annular rims 3l end diametricelly extending cross pieces 33 form the seinicirouler openings 35 es shown in Fig. l.

lt is intended that the upper semi-circular musees openings 35 Will `displayl green lights in hoth directions, or in other Words to both the front and the rear of the casing. rJlhe arrowopenings 34 are intended to displey red lights from the rear ol the casing and nr-ecn lights from the liront of the casing. rlhe semi-circular openings 35 formed in the lower half oli the casing are intended to display e red light from the rear of the sonic and a frosted white light from the `l'ront. For the purpose of displaying the dill'i'erent colored lights in the manner just described, l here provided e. green lens 36 which covers e portion slightly less then onefhalieV of the rear of the casing. The' remainingF portion of the rear of the casing is provided with e redllens 3T. lt will be.

seen by this arrangement of lenses thatthe upper semi-circular opening 35 Will display e, green light, the arrow-openings 3e will display red lights, and the lower senil-cir-v culer opening),` 35 will display e. red light. The front face of the casing is provided with a green lens 38 that covers' a portion slightly `greater than holt the opening and that the remaining portion-olf the open` ing' is provided with a frosted 'White lens` 39. 'lf his a 'rangement will 'canse e green light to he displayed through the upper semi-circular opening 35. green lights to be displayed through the arrow openings 34C. and a white light to he disployed-,througli the lower semi-circular opening 'lhe manner of assembling the 'various ele ments employed for forming this complete signal casing is as followsz` The cylindrical casing or shell 7 is of course employed as the body 'portion ot the entire apparatus.l rl`lie lenses 38 and 39 are properly positioned. within the front cover pleito 30 and the saine is then positioned against the outwardly directed annular ,shoulder 3 which is carried hy the iront side of the casing or shell 7. It is intended that the inwardly directed'annular'.llange 9 carried by the [lange 3 and the similarly formed llange 32 carried by the liront end cover plete be provided with three equi: spaced openings with the openings Jformed in the flange 3 screw threaded. The screws ll() ere then positioned within these three openings formed in euch o the flanges 3 and'32 with the result lhet the front ol' the casing is cutircly closed. The lenses and Si) will he retained in their desired posilions hy the outwardly directed annuler flange 3 carried hy the cylindrical l and the annuler riin 3l carried hy the 'lE ont cover plate 30. The side partitions 13 sind ll are next positioned Within the cyllndricel easing' in the manner illustrated in 3. lt Will he seen that thc depending end portions 2O formed upon euch of these p tions i3 and lll Will hc positioned in :i l ting` relation with each other :ind will l a' Lacasseof the said partitions in respect to the vari-l ous openings 34 and 35 formed in the front and rear cover plates. rl`he paptition key 26 is'then inserted into the casing with the upper and lower walls 28 and 29 respectively positioned outwardly of the upper and lower shoulders 16 formed in the partitions 13 and 14. The cutaway portions formed in the side partitions 13 and 14 will permit the intermediate portion 2l' of the partition key 26 to be positioned with its outer face in vertical alinement with the edges of the said side partitions. In other words the cutaway portions 22 allow forfthel counter-sinking ci' the intermediate portion 27 which forms a part of the partition key 26. It has been noted heretofore that the intermediate portion 27 of this partition key is or" less width, for a portion of its length,

than the width of the upper and lower wallsl 28 and 29. The width of the intermediate portion 27 is intended to he equal to the distance between the intermediate flat side portions 15 of the partitions l3'and 14. It will be seen that this partition key will act as a means for spreading'theside partitions 13' and 14 for causing the relatively small arcuate lower end portions 21' to iiushly engage the inner face ofV the cylindrical casing 7. This manner of interlocking the various Ipartition members will cause the saine-to retain their desired respective positions while they are within the casing. To complete the assembling of the signalling apparatus, te colored lenses 36and 37 are positioned within therear cover plate 30 and the same is secured to the inwardly directed annular flanges 9 carried by the cylindrical casing 7 in the same manner described in connection.

with the front cover plate 30. -The entire apparatus is then completely assembled.

In Figs. 2 and-'5, there are shown a ertures 41 that will allow for the passage o electric wires through the varous partitions for connecting the different electric sockets '25 -to asupply of current. These 4openings'41inay be positioned in any desired manner to permit the wiring of the said lamp socket. lit

is to be understood that the upper and lower* compartments 42 and 43 respectively andthe side compartments 44 and 45 will eaehbe' nating thep said compartments. Due to 'the fact that there has been yproviidedy green lenses on opposite sides of the compartment 42, green and red lenses on,opi'iosite'sides'y of thi'. compartments .44.and 45, and red. and frosted white lenseson opposite sides of the compartment 43, the electric bulbs 46 may be ot. a very low canelle power and still comply with traflic regulations .which usually call for the projecting of signal lights approximately two hundred feet.

As has been previously stated, this signal casing is adaptable for giving five different tratlic signals. The upper semi-circular openings 35 which display greenr lights are appropriate for rindicating a drivers intention to reduce his speed of travel. 'The' oppositely directed arrow-shaped openings i i 34 'will ,display green lights to the frontof the casing and ied lights to. the rear.. These i arrows are intended to indicate the dri'ver7s intention of turning either tothe right or left. The lower semi-circular opcnings i will display a red light. to the rear of the casing and a white light to the front. These lower openings 35 are therefore suitable for indicating the drivers intention tostoprliis vehicle and may also bev employed as a,

permanent parking light when the vehicle [l li'as been stopped lfor any considerablt-z'length,l l Y of time.

It is to be understood that the form of' this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the saine, and that various changes inthe shape, size, and arrangementv of parts may be resorted to 4without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeA of the subjoined claims. i

Havingthus described the invention, I claim l. In a signalling apparatus of the class described, a cylindrical casing having open ends, a series offinterlocked partitions within said casingdividing thew latter into a plurality o'f compartments, said partitions consisting ot side sections for forming side compartments outwardly thereof adapted for bearing against the upper and lower inner faces of said casing and having offset central portions, and a central section in terlocking with/'the offset portions of the side sections 'for forming upper and lower compartments above and below said section, illuininating-ineans in each compartment, sectional liensespositioned within said open ends, and c/over plates secured to the ends ofJ said casing for holding said lenses in place.

ing against the upper and lower inner faces of said casingfor forming side `coinpartments, and a horizontally extending central section interlocking with the offset p0rtions of the side sections for forming up-l l l per and lower compartmentsabove and below said section, illuminating means in each compartment, sectional lenses positioned ag n Lacasse within said open ends, and cover lates secured to the ends of said casing or holding said lenses in place..

3. In a signalling` apparatus of tlie class described, a cylindrical easing liaving open wardly thereof having inwardly directed arcuate Aend portions conforming in outline with and bearing against the upper and lower inner faces of said casing, inward" ly directed spaced shoulders carried by the side `sections, and a U-sliaped central section engaging said shoulders for retaining the side sections in spaced relation and for forming upper and lower compartments above and below said section, illuminating means in each compartment, sectional lenses positioned Within said open ends, and cover plates secured to the ends of said casing for holding said lenses in place.

l. ln a signalling apparatus of the class described, a cylindrical casing having open ends, a series oit interloclred partitions Witliin said casing dividing the latter into a plurality of compartments, said partitions consisting ci? spaced vertically extending sections for forming side compartments out- Wai'dly thereof and a'central section removably secured to the intermediate portions of said spaced vertical sections for forining upper and lower compartments thereabove and therebelow, a lens positioned within saidropen ends, illuminating means in each compartment, and cover plates secured to the ends of said casing for liolding said lenses .in place.

ln testimony whereof l atlix inv signature.

Joint n rrsirnaiir. 

